When forthcoming President Donald J. Trump became the first president in U.S. history to beimpeached twiceby the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 13 , 2021 , his future and those of his adult children became instantly darker and more uncertain .
TheUnited States Secret Serviceprovides 24/7 protection for the wives and kids of the U.S. president and frailty president , including their grownup children , and the Trump issue have been no exception .
U.S. Secret Service and the Trump Family
The Secret Service , during the four years of Trump ’s tenure , spentenormous amounts of moneyproviding protective cover to Trump ’s children . In October 2020,The Washington Post reportedthat the Trump Organization , on behalf of Ivanka Trump , Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. , had charged the federal administration at least $ 238,000 for Secret Service lodgings when they and their families visited Trump property .
The grownup Trump children have catch raft of blast during their Fatherhood ’s administration for hauling their Secret Service point all over the worldat the U.S. taxpayer ’s expense .
Secret Service officers have drop back Don Jr. and Eric all over the world , including on head trip to celebrate the openings of newfangled Trump - stigmatize hotel and golf game courses , and to curb on other Trump Organization project and possible investing — U.S. taxpayer have cover the bodyguards ' airfare , hotel rooms and meals .
The Secret Service wo n’t unloosen its travelling expenses , but the hotel lozenge on a 2017 trip for Eric Trump to Uruguay alone was estimated atnearly $ 100,000 , according to The Washington Post .
What Does the Law Say?
According to Union jurisprudence , the Secret Service is authorize to protect the sitting U.S. president and vice Chief Executive ( or the next - in - transmission line for the presidency ) , their immediate home , and all former U.S. presidents and their spouse , as well as their children under eld 16 . While in position , neither the president nor the vice president can decline Secret Service aegis , but their spouses and adult children can .
Almost all presidential families have accept full Secret Service protective covering for as long as the law allows . Bill Clinton and George W. Bush evenasked for extensionsto cover their college - age children for a menstruum after they give office , as did Barack Obamafor his daughters . The few exception are Ronald Reagan ’s youthful son , Ron , whodeclined Secret Service protectionduring his father ’s second term , and Richard and Pat Nixon , who scratch their lifetime protection in 1985,to economize the government money . They hired their own certificate detail .
In 1994 , Congress limited protection of future Chief Executive to just 10 years after go forth office , as a cost - cutting measure . In 2013 , itreinstated lifetime protection , citing fear over terrorism . Not every congressperson was in favor . Some persuasion , throw the remunerative opportunity overt to former presidents , they should pay for the recollective - term security measures themselves .
Despite the cost , the Trump category is doing nothing unusual by accepting Secret Service protection at home and while traveling overseas . In fact , there is a lawful reason for broaden that protection .
" If Eric Trump is traveling and have ’s say , God forbid , gets attacked and injure , killed — imagine the wallop , the psychological wallop , that would have on the president,“Jonathan Wackrow told NPR news . He is a former Secret Service phallus who used to protect Barack Obama ’s family . " So by protecting the children , you ’re by nonpayment protect the sanctity of the government agency of the administration . "
Should Presidents Have to Pay for Their Family’s Security?
However , never in the history of the American presidency has the commander - in - chieftain been a former external business business leader . And never has a multibillion - dollar global brand been so tight tied to the American president .
Brendan Fischer is an attorney with theCampaign Legal Centerand an expert of government transparency and ethic . He conceive that the Trump household should n’t use public funds to serve gain profits for a private business sector .
" You desire the president ’s kids to be good , " says Fischer , " but there are legitimate enquiry about how much taxpayers should be paying so the Trump family can jaunt around the world and win their own personal financial interests .
There ’s also the mixed message sent when Donald Jr. and Eric Trump change of location to make international business slew flanked by serious - looking dudes with phone and lapel pins .
" It could appear as though the tripper is somehow sanctioned by the U.S. government or that the kids are there play as emissaries of the Chief Executive , " says Fischer . " The fact that the Secret Service is present and providing security point further contributes to the appearance that the Trump Organization is intertwined with the presidency of the United States . "
By the time Trump left office on Jan. 20 , 2021 , the overall cost of Secret Service protection for the Trump sept is likely to have beenmillions morethan it was for Obama ’s family over four years , since in improver to the sons ' trips abroad , Trump spent almost every weekend in Palm Beach , Florida , at his demesne Mar - a - Lago .
Some mean that Donald Jr. and Eric Trump should have been made to pay for their own protection detail , both to lessen the financial burden to U.S. taxpayers and also to signal a deeper committedness to severalize business organization from political sympathies . It might have been a unspoilt idea , but legally it did n’t have to happen .
